What is the purpose of asking students to make notes on their gut responses to a text?

The purpose of asking students to make notes on their gut responses to a text aligns with the process of annotating for ethos. Ethos refers to the credibility or ethical appeal of the author, and responding to a text personally can help students engage with the author’s perspective. By noting their immediate reactions and feelings about the text, students begin to consider the author’s credibility and how it influences their understanding and interpretation of the material. This practice fosters critical thinking as students examine their own biases and emotions in relation to the author's intent and message.

In contrast, modeling annotation typically involves teaching students effective ways to mark up a text for deeper understanding, which might not solely focus on personal responses. Reverse-engineering a thesis would involve analyzing argument structures rather than personal reactions to a text. Lastly, modeling database use relates to research skills and finding information, which does not directly pertain to personal engagement with a literary work.